This guide will help you:

1) Select the right supplies to get started

2) Offer tips on how to hold a watercolor paint brush

3) Direct you to easy watercolor tutorials

4) Point you to worksheets that will drill your knowledge

5) Offer a few links to videos that will inspire!

1) Supplies
Getting started with watercolor is easy, and can be quite inexpensive. Here’s a list that should prove helpful.

Watercolor Paint Box
Invest in an inexpensive set of pan watercolors. Just stay away from the ultra-cheap Wal-Mart sets. The color will be less than satisfying.

Watercolor Paper
Watercolor paper is heavier than computer paper so that it can take a soaking. You can buy cheap paper, though make sure it’s 140lb. weight, so that it will stay fairly flat when it’s wet.

Watercolor Paint Brush
Your watercolor set may come with a paint brush. If not, a synthetic hair No. 8 round brush is a good brush to get started with. The biggest part of your budget ($5-$10) should be devoted to your brush.

Watercolor Pallet
A paper plate covered with plastic wrap will provide a great pallet on which to mix colors.

How to How a Watercolor Paint Brush
There are several ways to hold a watercolor paint brush. These are the two most common grips.

The Classic Grip (Click to Read More and/or See Pictures)
This grip is the most common grip, offering the most control over the brush.

“The classic grip for a watercolor paint brush is similar to holding a pencil…”

The Splatter Grip (Click to Read More and/or See Pictures)
This grip is ideal for adding a splatter effect to your artwork.

“The splatter grip requires you to grasp the middle of the brush…”

Watercolor Projects
The following projects are ideal for beginners. The first few lessons are easy step-by-step tutorials on how to paint excerpts from masterpiece art. The projects that follow will appeal to your silly side.

Degas Ballerina
This watercolor lesson introduces the art of French Impressionist artist Edgar Degas (1834-1917). This lesson provides kids with an opportunity to experiment with dry brush technique.

The Singing Fish (Miro)
This watercolor lesson introduces the art of Spanish painter and sculptor Joan Miro (1893 -1983). Following a step-by-step approach, you’ll paint an excerpt from his “The Singing Fish.”

Sunflower (Van Gogh)
This watercolor lesson introduces the art of Dutch Post-Impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890). Following a step-by-step approach, you’ll paint an excerpt from his “Still Life: Vase with Twelve Sunflowers.”

Mondrian Watercolor Painting
This watercolor lesson introduces the art of Dutch artist Piet Mondrian (1872-1944). This project challanges student to recreate his geometric art with a black crayon and three primary colored paints.

Three Musicians (Picasso)
This watercolor lesson introduces the art of Spanish Modern artist Pablo Picasso (1881-1973). Following a step-by-step approach, you’ll paint an excerpt from his cubist masterpiece “Three Musicians (1905).”

How to Draw a Dog
In this watercolor lesson you will paint a dog.

The Little Engine That Could | “Learn to Watercolor” Project
In this watercolor lesson you will paint the cartoon steam engine, The Little Engine that Could.

“Make a Wish” Fairy | “Learn to Watercolor” Project
In this watercolor lesson you will paint a fairy.

How to Paint a Clown Fish
In this watercolor lesson you will paint a school of clown fish and then outline the fish with black marker.

Monkey Loves Banana | “Learn to Watercolor” Project
In this watercolor lesson you will paint a monkey holding a banana.

Happy Kindergartener | “Learn to Watercolor” Project
In this watercolor lesson you will paint simply drawn child. It is by the the easiest lesson to complete.

Retro Robot | “Learn to Watercolor” Project
In this watercolor lesson you will paint retro-style robot, complete with colored lights.

Free Watercolor Worksheets
Print these watercolor worksheets to improve your skills.

Watercolor Terms | Word Search Worksheet
Drill 12 watercolor terms with the first free printable word search worksheet.

Art Worksheet: Painting Reflections in Watercolor
Learn how to paint the reflection of a lighthouse in the water.

Inspiring Tutorial/Demonstration Videos by Watercolor Artists

Fabio Cembrenelli | Demo IV
Tiffanny Varga Watercolor Tutorial, Part 1
Watercolor Tutorial Lesson Village Landscape

Interested in a free coloring page of an art masterpiece to supplement your next art lesson? Here is a list of 11 coloring pages that your can use with your students. Not only are they wonderful resources with which to expose students to great art, but to allow students to see how the artist used color to lead the viewers eye to certain areas of the work.

Free Coloring Pages

Composition with Blue, Red and Yellow by Piet Mondrian | Free Coloring Page

Three Musicians by Pablo Picasso | Free Coloring Page

Girl with a Watering Can by Pierre-August Renoir

Woman with a Hat by Henri Matisse | Free Coloring Page

A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by George Seurat | Free Coloring Page

Picasso Self Portrait (1907) by Pablo Picasso | Free Coloring Page

The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh | Free Coloring Page

Girl with a Pearl Earring by Jan Vermeer | Free Coloring Page

Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci | Free Coloring Page

Lobster Trap by Alexander Calder | Free Coloring Page

The Dance Class by Edgar Degas

 

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Browse other “The Art Student” related posts:

Great Artist Biographies for Kids
Watercolor Terms | Free Printable Word Search Worksheet
Drawing Terms | Free Printable Word Search Worksheet
Free Art Masterpiece Coloring Pages
Free Bible Coloring Pages

What you’ll need:
Ivory Soap (Bar)
Butter Knife
Tooth Pick

That’s it!

Goldfish Soap Sculpture | Free Lesson Plan
An easy first project is a goldfish. This project can be completed in about in 45 minutes. Get the lesson plan by clicking on the link.

Bear Soap Sculpture
This project in most suited for students with intermediate level drawing skills. This project can be completed in about in 45 minutes.

1) Beginning by drawing the bear lightly on the soap.

2) Next begin removing the soap around the bear with your butter knife.

3) Finally, shape the features of the bear with your toothpick.

Turtle Soap Sculpture
Here’s another projects for students with with intermediate level drawing skills. This project can be completed in about in one hour.

1) Beginning by drawing the shell of the turtle lightly on the top of the soap. Then draw the bottom of the turtle on the bottom of the soap.

2) Next begin removing the soap around the turtle with your butter knife.

3) Finally, shape the features of the turtle with your toothpick.

Artist Biographies for Kids and Lessons Resources
Paint Like Picasso: Art Projects for Kids
Drawing Lessons for Beginners (or Those Who Just Gave Up)
Claude Monet | Homeschool Art Lesson Resources
Albrecht Durer | Homeschool Art Lesson Resources
Pierre-Auguste Renoir | Homeschool Art Lesson Resources
Grandma Moses | Homeschool Art Lesson Resources

Free Worksheets
Watercolor Terms | Free Printable Word Search Worksheet
Drawing Terms | Free Printable Word Search Worksheet
Free Famous Artist Word Search Worksheets
Pablo Picasso | Free Word Search Worksheets
Leonardo da Vinci | Free Word Search Worksheet
Georgia O’Keeffe | Free Printable Word Search Worksheet

Free Coloring Pages
Free Art Masterpiece Coloring Pages
Free Bible Coloring Pages
Joseph’s Coat of Many Colors | Free Coloring Page
Mermaids | Free Printable Coloring Pages
Free Coloring Page | Stained Glass Nativity Scene
Bears | Free Printable Coloring Pages
Wooly Mammoth | Free Coloring Page
Jonah and the Whale | Free Coloring Page

You can start by reading a little about this great artist, or just jump right in. Below you will find a free printable biography, followed by the lesson plan.

Michelangelo Biography
Michelangelo Buonarroti was born on March 6, 1475, in Caprese, Italy, a small Italian village near Arezzo, Tuscany. For several generations, his family had worked as bankers in Florence. His father, Lodovico di Leonardo di Buonarroti di Simoni, also held occasional government positions. At the time of Michelangelo’s birth, his father was serving as a Florentine government agent in Caprese, and his mother was in failing health…

Hey Kids, Meet Michelangelo | Biography for Kids

Michelangelo Art Project for Kids
This project helps kids understand the challenge that Michelangelo was confronted with as he painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. All you need for this project is a piece of butcher paper, a pencil and some paint.

Creation of Adam | Art Project for Kids

Enjoy!

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Browse other “The Art Student” related posts:

Paint Like Picasso: Art Projects for Kids
Georges Seurat | Homeschool Art Lesson Resources
Free Famous Artist Word Search Worksheets
Claude Monet | Homeschool Art Lesson Resources
Michelangelo | Homeschool Art Lesson Plans
Pablo Picasso | Masterpiece Coloring Page

Free Word Search Worksheet

Pablo Picasso | Free Word Search Worksheet

About the Artist
Pablo Picasso was born on October 25, 1881 in Malaga, Spain. He was the first child of Don Jose Ruiz y Blasco, an art teacher, and Maria Picasso y Lopez. At an early age Pablo showed an interest in drawing. His first words were “piz, piz”, which is short for “lapiz”, the Spanish word for pencil. Read more…

Get Pablo Picasso | Printable Biography

Enjoy!

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Browse other “The Art Student” related posts:

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Georges Seurat | Homeschool Art Lesson Resources
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Claude Monet | Homeschool Art Lesson Resources
Michelangelo | Homeschool Art Lesson Plans
Pablo Picasso | Masterpiece Coloring Page

Free Word Search Worksheet

Alexander Calder | Free Word Search Worksheet

About the Artist
Alexander Calder was born in 1898, in Lawnton, Pennsylvania. He was born into a family of artists. His father Alexander Stirling Calder was a prominent sculptor who created many public sculptures in the Philadelphia area. Calder’s mother, Nanette Lederer Calder, was a professional portrait painter who studied art in Paris before moving to Philadelphia where she met her husband Alexander Stirling Calder. Read more…

Get Alexander Calder | Printable Biography

Enjoy!

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Browse other “The Art Student” related posts:

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Free Word Search Worksheet

Michelangelo | Free Word Search Worksheet

About the Artist
Michelangelo Buonarroti was born on March 6, 1475, in Caprese, Italy, a small Italian village near Arezzo, Tuscany. For several generations, his family had worked as bankers in Florence. His father, Lodovico di Leonardo di Buonarroti di Simoni, also held occasional government positions. At the time of Michelangelo’s birth, his father was serving as a Florentine government agent in Caprese, and his mother was in failing health. Read more…

Get Michelangelo | Printable Biography

Enjoy!

____________________________________________________________________

Browse other “The Art Student” related posts:

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Watercolor Terms | Free Printable Word Search Worksheet
Drawing Terms | Free Printable Word Search Worksheet
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Free Word Search Worksheet

Claude Monet | Free Word Search Worksheet

About the Artist
Claude Monet was born in Paris, France on November 14, 1840. He was the second child of Louise-Justine Aubry and Claude Adolphe Monet. In 1845, the Monet family settled near the ocean in Ingouville, France. In 1851, Claude began attending school. He studied many subjects including art. When he was a young teenager it became apparent he had artistic ability. Claude would draw caricatures of his teachers on his schoolwork. Read more…

Get Claude Monet | Printable Biography

Enjoy!

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Browse other “The Art Student” related posts:

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Free Word Search Worksheet

Wasilly Kandinsky | Free Word Search Worksheet

About the Artist
Wassily Kandinsky was born on December 16, 1866, in Moscow, Russia. His father was a tea merchant and his mother was a homemaker. At an early age, Wassily exhibited a very special gift called synaesthesia cognate. This gift gave him the ability to hear colors and see sounds. This special gift was encouraged by his father who enrolled him in private drawing lessons as well as lessons in piano and cello. Read more…

Get Wasilly Kandinsky Printable Biography

Enjoy!

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Browse other “The Art Student” related posts:

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